STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS SHOULD FIRST REFORM THEMSELVES
The political events of the previous week have again brought the university student s or the mahasiswa, albeit a very small and insignificant number of them, to the centre stage. They seemed to be unselfconsciously drawn into some sort of a reform movement, supposedly based on Islam.
A couple of months ago, an observation highlighted in the newspaper on the possibility that the mahasiswa might be using religion as a form of escapism to academic excellence triggered off an exciting, but sadly short-lived debate among scholars and commentators.
It is argued that Bumiputera mahasiswa spend too much time on the so called religious activities. But what is puzzling is that whilst these activities which are supposed to expose them to the true teaching of Islam which demands excellence from Muslims in whatever they do, especially in the quest for knowledge, there is a persistent and consistent failure of these Bumiputera students to shine.
The issue is of course a sticky one, and obviously best left in the cold. Anyone braved enough to venture into it invites scuds of both literary and oratory missiles from the academia, religious scholars and student sympathisers.
Undeniably, people easily become sensitive and upset whenever there is a mention of the “religious escapism” syndrome. Their first reaction is to pounce at the sponsors, stereotyped them as anti-religious forces, and dismiss them as “infidels who shall bum in the hellfire”.
Unfortunately, such irrational and mostly incoherent responses are normally successful in diluting the issue. And true enough, the presumably noble intentions and grave concerns of the sponsors of this line of thinking would finally die a natural death.
However, as long as the issue remains a thorn in the Muslims’ flesh, the pain is bound to recur. A discerning reader of last weekend’s newspaper feature artic1es, would surely notice how a journalist was quoted to have described the followers of a former government leader as “those who usually have some tertiary education, though not necessarily knowledge.”
No doubt the comment was aimed at a very small number of graduates, local or overseas, but the implications and repercussions could be tremendous. What is more disturbing is that, it can be inferred that the concerned followers are mostly, if not all, Muslims.
Can tertiary education no longer ensure the dissemination of a certain amount of basic knowledge to help the future graduates wade through the hustle and bustle of real life? Can’t a university degree provide enough wisdom to these future upper echelon employees and leaders to assist them in deciding between the right and the wrong?
Can’t it give them the ability to choose between the good and the evil? Between truthfulness and falsehood? Between morality and depravity? Between the needs of the nation and the desires of an individual? Looking at the recent political caprices of a section of mahasiswa and ex-mahasiswa, for that matter, the answers to all these seem to be an emphatic “yes”.
Education’s role is to replace an empty mind with an open mind. Tertiary education, which easily qualifies as the pinnacle of the modem system of learning, should provide the mahasiswa the ultimate knowledge and wisdom to become a useful individual, one who is fair to oneself and in the treatment of others. As the adage goes, “with knowledge one may judge oneself’.
Similarly, religion’s role is to replace an empty heart with an open heart. A person with an open heart is ready to contribute to the peace and prosperity of his fellow beings. He is entrusted to make this world a better and safer place for everyone to live, and certainly not otherwise.
Education and religion combined can ensure a well-balanced person, one with an open mind and open heart. In short, these are the prerequisites for man to perform his duties successfully as the khalifah or vicegerent on this earth.
There is now talk of enlisting the mahasiswa for the upcoming reform movement. No doubt they would be Muslims who, though may be pursuing tertiary education, but do not care two hoots whether they gamer knowledge and achieve wisdom or not.
No doubt too, that many would be Muslims who have not been performing very well in their studies, but find it less taxing and somewhat more glamorous to chant slogans and derogatory remarks, make burning speeches and hurl abuses, to the elders who happen to be their national leaders.
Of course, it does not take a maverick to entice these mahasiswa out of their campuses and play to the tunes of some Johnny-come-lately anti-establishment academics and out-of-favour politicians. To the unsuspecting mahasiswa, it is very convenient way of avoiding the real issue; academic excellence.
The happenings of last week appear to add more credence to the alleged prevalence of “religious escapism” syndrome afflicting some Muslim mahasiswa. What reformation are they talking about? The more urgent one is the reformation of themselves. Specifically, it is best that they take a long hard look at their most recent grades.
Billions of dollars are spent yearly to support their studies and yet their performance still leave a lot to be desired. In many disciplines, especially those related to science and technology, the nation is still waiting for a first-class Bumiputera graduate.
It is obvious that Muslim Bumiputera mahasiswa are still considered as low achievers in many areas. There is no point in giving excuses. It also does not hold water to attribute this sad state of affair to the stale notion that the cream of Bumiputera students have been sent abroad. The best of non-Bumiputera students also find their way into universities overseas. Why are those who remain can still achieve first-class?
Thus, for the Muslim Bumiputera mahasiswa, focussing on acquiring knowledge, fortifying wisdom and improving upon their grades is perhaps a much more noble deed to do than going round trying to reform others. This is very much in tandem with the Islamic prescription.
What can be more sanctifying than striving for excellence in the quest of knowledge and wisdom? What can be more hallowing than looking deep into oneself and amassing enough strength to reform oneself, to be a better, and more responsible and caring person?
A small section of the academics is also not blameless in guiding the mahasiswa concerned towards the alleged Islamic-based reform. A few have chosen to grab the opportunity to ride on the ludicrous bandwagon. Why they are doing this, is anyone’s guess.
Perhaps, they too are trying to deviate from the more pressing call to make Malaysian universities centres of excellence. Or maybe, they are finding that the heat in the laboratories and seminar rooms is too much to bear. It is also possible that they are beginning to learn the art of surviving in the comfort of the academic mediocrity.
To put it bluntly, they’d now rather engage in activities like “selling saliva”, or talking hypes to the masses, which are much less excruciating than submitting a scientific paper to a respectable journal or presenting a research finding to the peers, which might jeopardise their hitherto well-touted, but rather suspect, academic credentials.
Not many Malaysian academics have achieved world status. Not many are prolific contributors to international journals and magazines. Not many have written good books for the benefit of the community. Not many, too, are constantly looking at ways at improving themselves and their students, and consequently help make the nation, its people and their faiths more credible and respectable. In short, not many have achieved excellence yet.
Thus, as with the mahasiswa, academics, too, need not deviate from their quest to promote knowledge, and enhance wisdom. Before embarking on moves to reform others, there is a need for self-appraisal. Academically, are we productive enough? Are we really excellent in our own field? Can we provide the good examples so that others can follow? And most importantly, are we doing the right thing?
